Unmasking stigma: Understanding and Mitigating Its Impact on Asthma Medication Use Among Older Adults

There is growing concern among respiratory and primary care professionals about the degree of poorly controlled asthma in the community with much of the morbidity and mortality associated with this concentrated amongst older adults. In the past, research has tended to exclude older people with asthma, despite this group experiencing the most mortality and high levels of asthma related morbidity in the Australian community. Our research team is interested in understanding perceptions about medicines and stigmas experienced by older adults in the use of preventer inhalers and corticosteroids for management of asthma. The work that the honours student will undertake will contribute to a larger body of research in development where the broad aim is to develop an intervention for older adults with asthma focusing on addressing stigmas associated with medication use in older adults. This will involve qualitative research with this group and a co-design study with consumers and stakeholders.